The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1887-03-31
TOOK HIS OWN LIFE.
. WELL KNOWN RAILROAD MAN
Fatally Shoots Himself ut Home In steu'
benriile-No Motive Known but the De-
preston Resulting from IA Long Spree.
The Particulars Of tho Sad Affair.

James Lockhart, the well known bag.
gage master and Adams express agent on
the Pewiky road from this city 10 steuben.
vile, shot himself shortly before noon
yesterday at his homo on Adams street In
steubenville. The ball entered the centre
OF his forehead and passed through his
brain, causing instant death. He had just
come from the depot after finishing his
morning run from this city, and upon en-.
tering the house proceeded directly to his
own room on tho second floor, closed the
door and locked 1t. Almost Immediately
the family heard O shot, and going to the
room, forced open the door and entered.
Lockhsrt vas lying on the floor dead, the
blood Issuing from tho hole In his fore
head.
Lockhart had been O steady drinker oil
wbiBky for yeara and while scarcely ever
under the influence visibly was always in
q 6tatc Of solni.intoxicstion. For tho pRst
two years, whisky failing to bring about
that spirit OF indifference, he had resorted
to opium and WAS almost q Dlave 10 the
habit. According to other trainmen since
lust Thursday he had been constantly
under tho influence OF the drug, 80 that he
was more than ordinarily stupid, and 1t Ia
thought that yesterday morning the effects
OF the drug Ind gradually died out and his
nervous Hystem WAS In such q state tina,
death was his only relief, hence his tax
Ing OF his own life. The revolver used
wao an old style seven shooter, long rilled
barrel with cylinder containing long 3.
calibro cartridges. He used his left hand
in shooting AndplRcedth the muzzlo oftho re-
volver against his left temple Just about
where the hair begins.
James LockhRrt YVES born in Mingo
about thirty-one years ago, tho Bon oil
John Lockhayt, aud. at O very early nge
was married. lie began q railroad career
several yeare ago as u BRAKEMAN on q freight
train, % which occupation he continued
until seven years ago, when, near Skel.
ley'g Station the crew was making q fly-
lug switch and q Acknowledgement was
upon the top Of an empty stock car with
him, who falling caught Lockhart and
fell with him from the car. The wheels
passed over Lockharts leg, and all the
surgeons said his leg must come of, but
to this operation no with atoical fortitude
reiusedto submit, andalthough confined to
HE bed for almost a year, no recovered
with only a slight lameness. Then he
wGs made %janitor and messenger at the
Pan Handle passenger station il Steubon-
vile when the shops were III full blast
and tho maintenance OF way and train
masters department were located there.
Then about i've yeats aga he was made
baggage MISTER on the run from this city
to Steubcuville. For the lsst year he has
run on Conductor Coyle's train.
Last evenings Steubenville Gazette in
its account Of the BAD affair says: This
morning he made his run as usual and
went down to his home resr the c0rnerof
Sixth and Adams streets. He vas always
in the habit OF going upstairs, undressing
and lying down until dinner time snd did
the same thing this morning. His wife
was busily engaged doing a large washing
in the kitchen and did not pay much st.
tention to Him until q few minutes before
| eleyeno o'clock, became down the stairs that
led directly down 10 the kitchen and told
his wife that his boys were large enough
now TO help her, aud as he coutd not stop
drinking he wss going TO get away with
himself. She only said, You must not
DO that, Jim," and did not give it much
attention until be went back up stairs ;she
heard hin turn the catch on the lock and
then she etarted up. When hall way up
the Stairs she heard the shot and his body
fall upon the door. Bursting the
door che found him lying. in
tho middle of the floor clothed
in nothing but his red undeIahirt, xith a
revolver still amokiug clasped tightly in
his left hand and lie amost totally extinct.
Dr.. McLGne, the nearest surgeon, was
quickly dispatched for but when be ar
rived he know that the fatal bullet had
successfully done ito work. The alarm
was immediately given and Il large crowd
soon congregated, filed with that imperti.
nent curiosity which Characterizes people
Oh such an occasion. Lockhart WIS raiaed
from the floor and put upon the bed
where he will remain until the funeral to-
morrow. .
The grief Of the wife and children and
the distressed appearance Of the house and
c0ntcnts made the picture one Of the sad
dest one could conceive Of; although
only thirty-one years old lie LEI. six. chill
dren, three boys and three girls, ranging
in age from twelve TO two.